3 Days in London with Kids
London is an incredible city with so much history to see within easy access of the Underground train system. After a slight learning curve (those underground gates close quick! If traveling with kids make sure you use the wider family gate) the tube and bus system is extremely easy to navigate.
This guide is based off of our 6 day trip to London with kids over July 4th to visit some friends, explore the city and for my husband to attend the Formula 1 British Grand Prix. It includes 3 very full days of sightseeing followed by 3 days of Formula 1, but they could easily be spread out across a longer time period for a more relaxed trip.
For those looking to attend the British Grand Prix, London is a good jumping off point. Although the daily commute from London is long, it is doable. If you will be doing the commute I recommend finding accommodations in the neighborhood of Marylebone due to the nearly direct train to Bansbury where a shuttle takes you to the track.
Getting THere:
We flew a budget airline into Gatwick Airport and then took the Victoria Express train into London. Heathrow also has a train from the airport to London. I recommend avoiding renting a car unless you know there is a place to park it. And even then, there are tolls that must be paid to enter the city. For us using the underground was a far easier way of getting around, even with a smaller baby in our group.
Where to Stay:
I highly recommend the neighborhood of Marylebone as it had plenty to do in the immediate area for food and entertainment while also being within walking distance of both the Marylebone and Baker Street underground stations, as well as a few bus lines.
Paddington also seemed to be a very easy station to access everything, so I recommend staying in one of those two locations.
Eat:
These restaurants are all in the Marylebone neighborhood, other restaurants that I recommend along the way are listed within the itinerary. For anyone with food allergies, I found all of the restaurants that we ate at to have spectacular allergy proticol. Each one had either an online menu I could filter for meals that were safe or they had an ipad I could do the same with. They marked her food with a green flag to indicate that it was handled according to their allergy policies. We had a great experience eating out in London with my daughter’s egg allergy.
Another great option would be a food tour.
The Volunteer: Make sure to check the football/soccer schedule to avoid crowds. On Sunday’s they offer beef and vegetarian Roast. Arrive early if you want Sunday roast, as they will run out. Their savory pies are also pretty tasty.
The Prince Regent: Great pub food. Make sure to check the football/soccer schedule to avoid crowds. This one is pretty kid friendly with kids menus and high chairs.
Veg Box Cafe: Even if you are not vegan, this cafe has great breakfast, treats, and chocolate covered strawberries.
Sir John Balcombe Marylebone: Make sure you check the football/soccer schedule to avoid the crowds during a game. Get there early if you’re trying to do Sunday roast.
The Rajdoot: You can’t come to London without eating Indian food! This place had amazing food and the service was superb. They made great recommendations and we had the perfect amount of delicious food. RIP their tableclothes though.
Getting Around:
As with most large cities worth their tourism, London has a Hop On Hop Off bus that takes you to all of the major landmarks in the city, as well as often giving you the historical details of what you are seeing.
The underground system is pretty easy to maneuver after a slight learning curve. You use your credit card (I used it on my phone and watch) to tap in and out of the train gates and the system automatically applies the appropriate fare category. NOTE: the regular gates close very quickly, so if traveling with kids use the family gate. It will be wider and usually on the far left or right. It gives more time to get a stroller, a suitcase, or up to 4 kids through. London Underground child fare is free for kids 11 and under with an adult.
While the main underground system is very accessible with a stroller, most of the entrances required a handful of stairs from the street level. Mostly we used google maps to navigate which trains to take. Generally there was an option to take either the tube or a bus. The bus is more scenic but is a bit slower. Make sure you and your kids hang on to a bar or are seated on the train. And make sure you are aware of your bags, phones and wallets while on the train. Packed train cars are ripe for pickpocketing. Bag in front and hand on the opening is more than enough to deter them.
Day One: SightSeeing
There are so many free things to do in London with kids. This is a great way to start your trip. Take the tube to Jubilee Station and walk through Hays Galleria. Grab a coffee and walk along the Thames for an amazing view of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, and the Shard behind you.
Hays Galleria: A cute covered open air shopping area, this one had a pirate ship fountain in the middle of it and a handful of cafes that were opening. Once you see the Thames River, turn left and walk along the water. In the water you will see the HMS Belfast and behind you will see the Shard.
Tower Bridge: You can walk across the Tower Bridge for great views of the Tower of London and the Shard. It is a drawbridge, so be sure to plan for any delays due to bridge openings.
Coppa Club: Make a reservation for one of their igloos for brunch with a view no matter the weather.
Tower of London: get your tickets and walk inside. Make sure you catch one of the free Beefeater’s tours. They offer a wealth of information about the way the tower was used and the people that lived and died there. Once the tour is done you can explore on your own, view the changing of the guards outside the Crown Jewels, and interact with the costumed characters in the courtyard.
Once you are done touring the Tower of London, grab an Uber Boat going toward Wesminister. This is a ferry operated along the Thames that just happens to sail under the London Bridge, Millenium Bridge, past the London Eye and then get off at Westminster. Other tours are also available.
Big Ben: the clock chimes every 15 minutes with a more elaborate chime on the hour. There are many places to get a good picture, including a few well placed classic British phone booths.
Westminster Abbey: You will likely want tickets in advance and the Abbey is a solemn abbey so children will need to be respectful and quiet inside.
Buckingham Palace: You can congregate along the gate and watch the changing of the guard, but to enter you will need tickets. We opted to just look from the outside and then head over to a pub for a pint or let your kids run in the St. James’s Park Playground where they also have a cafe.
Day Two: Art and Theater!
This is a great place for free things to do in London with kids. Many of the museums in London are free but you do have to reserve an arrival time slot to avoid the line, so depending on your interests you can find a museum with exhibits to match.
Science Museum: A great museum for kids with interactive informational displays. If you want to attend any of the specialty exhibits you will have to pay, but the museum at large is free. Reservation recommended so you can just walk straight in. The pizza in the diner is pretty good as well, although expensive.
Museum of Natural History: Another free museum, make sure you get your reservation. The building alone is worth a visit, with animals and plants beautifully carved into the arches. Called the Cathedral to Nature, it is a fitting moniker. There are small cafes inside as well as a restaurant.
Frameless Immersive Art Experience: Immerse yourself in art, this is a kid friendly way to experience some of the great masterpieces. This is NOT a free museum.
Twist Museum: Another kid friendly art museum, this one being more modern art installations and optical illusions. This is NOT a free museum.
London Zoo: The London Zoo is not free but is a great place to walk around on a nice day. A lot of it is outside, as one would expect, but there are a few indoor exhibits as well.
Regent’s Park: A lovely green space near the zoo and Marylebone.
If you enjoy theater there are a variety of shows on offer. Theaters may have different dress codes and security measures, so be sure to check.
Trafalgar Square: This is also the location of the British Museum where the Rosetta Stone and many other “commandeered” artifacts are located.
West End: There are many different theaters showing all sorts of theater shows. We saw Matilda at the Cambridge Theater and the kids still talk about it months later. For younger children I recommend a matinee, my 5 year old fell asleep during the show.
Day Three: Shopping and Afternoon Tea
Piccadilly Circus: Times Square vibes with lots of high end places to shop or just people watch
Oxford Circus: more great people watching and window shopping.
Brasserie of Light: This excellent restaurant is located inside Selfridge’s, along with many other off the wall entertainment, such as art displays and a skate park! The decor and attention to detail is incredible, and the name is very fitting. Lots of beveled mirrors and crystals make this a beautifully lit space for lunch.
Kensington Palace High Tea Viator Link
Notting Hill: Made famous by the movie of the same name, this neighborhood is cute with it’s multicolored houses and little Mom and Pop shops.
Portabello Road Market: Portobello Road is full of vintage and antique shops, as well as farmer’s market type vendors set up in tents along the street. There are a few food vendors, but largely they sell clothes and accessories.This was a fun day full of unique things to do in London with kids. You truly can’t beat Notting Hill and Portabello Road for a funky London vibe. This is also a great area for people watching. Locals have such a fun fashion sense.
Royal Lancaster, Hyde Cafe: Afternoon Tea, make sure that you make a reservation in advance. Tea usually starts at 1pm
Have you ever been to London? Would you take a family trip to London?
Check out all of the tours and activities that I recommend in my Viator shop!
https://www.viator.com/orion/partner/widget.js
Objects in Motion Travel 
Leave a comment